Bodywork Fitness Column

Dec 14 2012 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

Hello everyone and welcome to my column where I offer you a round-up of all the latest fitness news and reviews from around the area.

I was a guest on the Food and Fitness Friday on 3TFM last Friday and this edition of the radio show was a question and answer session hosted by Ronnie McGhie and included myself and Slimming World’s Sarah Jennings.

It was a fantastic show and we got hundreds of texts from eager listeners asking about their diet and fitness requirements.

Now, I’m sure a lot of the texts were sent from friends of ours who rose to the occasion but the questions were still relevant.

We were quizzed on issues of diet, how to avoid sweet snacks, how to stay motivated and what classes to attend.

A big thanks to everyone who took the time to text in, including the staff and students of James Watt College’s health and beauty department.

Some of the points raised were fielded by Sarah, who writes her own column in this very paper every week and it was apparent that healthy eating is still a huge point of contention for many of you out there.

My specialised subject is keep fit and exercise, so it’s quite rare that I offer up any dietary advice. I feel this is a field that should be handled by qualified professionals only.

There are a lot of fad diets out there and I am always wary of any programme that encourages you to buy dietary supplements as part of an exercise regime.

Like Slimming World, I firmly believe that a healthy eating programme should work in conjunction with a regular exercise programme if your goal is to lose weight.

I often hear of cleverly worded campaigns that encourage people to buy supplements and follow certain diets and if this is done properly then I am sure that positive results can be achieved.

However, there is an awful lot of rubbish out there. Meal replacement drinks and diet pills that may not deliver the promises they advertise. Products such as these are easily available but they are not magic beans that will work for every individual the same way.

Many other factors have to be taken into account too. Everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another.

If diet is an issue for you, I strongly suggest that you take the time to speak to people who are qualified in this field and know what they are talking about.

There are many fantastic weight loss groups in the local area that can help you including Slimming World and these wonderful groups will help you and encourage you to stay on a safe and healthy eating plan that will allow you to exercise safely at the same time.

You wouldn’t go to your local plumber if you weren’t feeling well, you would go to your doctor, so why would you trust an unqualified person with any other aspect of your life.

If you are lucky enough to have a fitness instructor who is a qualified dietician then you can take their advice and run with it but always be wary of diet plans that promise miracle solutions. The golden rule is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

This year at my own classes, many of my clients have managed to reach their weight and fitness goals by eating healthily and exercising every week. No gimmicks or diets, simply good old fashioned hard work. Now I know that it can be a difficult road and often there are detours on that journey but there is no substitute for determination, so my best advice is to visualise where you want to be and never lose sight of that goal. If you want to lose weight then see yourself as that person and believe you are already there. If you want to be fitter, imagine how you will feel when you are fitter and how that will change your life.

These positive mental images will encourage you to think positively about yourself and to aim for that goal. Stay strong and positive, sports’ fans.